Why our lollipops are harder to open than conventional candy

Okay, so let’s talk about our wrappers. I know, I know, they can be a real pain to get into sometimes. I’ve had my own moments of frustration trying to tear one open for my kid. And we’ve definitely gotten emails about it. The truth is, that tough little wrapper is there for a really important reason, and it all comes down to what’s inside: real, organic honey.

Unlike most candies, we don’t use table sugar or corn syrup. We use honey, and honey is… well, it’s different. It’s alive, in a way. I was reading up on it and apparently, it’s got a lot more water in it than processed sugars. Something like 17% water, plus all the good stuff like fructose and glucose, vitamins, and minerals. High fructose corn syrup, which is in pretty much everything, is a whole other story. It’s processed to be super sweet, which is why big companies love it—they can use less, and it’s way cheaper than real sugar.

I’ve also stumbled across some stuff that makes me a little uneasy about high fructose corn syrup. There's talk about how it can mess with your appetite and maybe even contribute to things like diabetes and inflammation. I’m no scientist, but it makes you think. Still, you’ll find corn syrup in almost every candy out there—gummies, marshmallows, you name it. And when you look at why, it’s pretty obvious.

Here’s the breakdown I’ve pieced together for why it’s the go-to for big brands:

• Abundant-  It’s made from corn, and there’s just a massive amount of corn out there, a lot of it being GMO. So, it's always available.

• Cheap- Because it's so much sweeter than regular sugar, companies can use less of it, and that saves a ton of money. It’s a simple business decision, I guess.

• Shelf-Life- The stuff lasts forever. Seriously. Companies don’t have to worry about it expiring, which is a huge plus for mass production.

• It is consistent- For making millions of something, you need ingredients that are exactly the same every single time. High fructose corn syrup is predictable. It tastes the same no matter what.

But see, honey isn't like that. Because it’s a natural sugar, its consistency can get a little weird depending on the temperature or even just the humidity in the air. I learned that honey is “hygroscopic,” which is a fancy word for saying it loves to suck up moisture from its surroundings. If we just used a normal paper wrapper, the lollipops would get all sticky and gooey, especially on a humid day.

So yeah, that’s why we use those shrink wrappers. They’re basically a little waterproof shield to keep moisture out and make sure the lollies stay as fresh as the day we made them. We want them to get to you just right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SH17qtpcph8

It's one of those things, you know? We’re always trying to balance keeping things truly natural with making them convenient. Sometimes that means a wrapper that’s a little tougher to get into. It’s not perfect, but for now, it feels like the right choice to protect what’s inside. Just a little glimpse into the things we think about over here.